Safety-coupling for electric conductors.



A. BELGODER. SAFETY QOUPLING FOR ELECTRIC UONDUGTORS. APPLICATION FILED MAY 26,1909,

987,036, v Patented Mar. 14, 1911.

the key or coupling lll llT ,nrc.

ANGEL BELGODER, or MEXiCO, MEXICO.

SAFETY-COUPLING FOR ELECTRIC CONDUCTORS.

lb (all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANGEL BELoonER, a merchant and a citizen of the Republic of Mexico, residing at Mexico city, Mexico, have invented a new and useful Safety- Coupling for Electric Conductors, andhercby do declare the following to be a complete description of the same.

My invention relates to a device for preventing accidents in the nature of fire or of injury to living beings by contact with the live ends of a broken electric cable. This is accomplished by dividing the cable or conductor into a suitable number of sections of adequate length, and inserting into the circuit at each end of each section a coupling having an automatic, mechanically operated, uncoupling device,which, upon rupture of any section, will cause its twoparts to fall completely out of and clear of the circuit.

The coupling which forms the subject of my invention is a coupling in the sense that under normal, operative-conditions "it connects two parts of the cable or conductor;

but it is designed so that when either. of

of which the safety coupling is installed.

in the annexed drawing which represents my invention: Figure 1 is a perspective showing my circuit breaker as it appears set on a post transmission Wire or cable and undcr the bracket which supports such Wire or cable. Fig. 2 is the contact breaker. Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6 show the two yokes that engage the contact breaker. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the circuit breaker. Fig. 8 shows the entire device assembled. Fig. 9 is a perspective drawing of the apparatusset up in place. i

The device is made of copper, steel or other suitable metal, either cast, forged or stamped.

In the example here shown, I attach, by any suitable known means, such as soldering,

construction, attached bfy a central lug, projecting from its upper a'ce as shown, or by piece 7 to a slot provided in the under side of a shoe 6, of known Specification of Letters Patent. I Patented Dia 14c, 1911. Application filed May 26, 1909. Serial No. 498,589.

wire insulator of glass or porcelain a of the common type, secured to one of the afore mentioned section-limiting posts in any suitable way, as by the wire 6. I

The key-piecej of the coupling consists of a metallic conductor having the general shape of a rectangular prism or parallelepiped, the two lower corners f of which are rounded off to facilitate the disengagement. of the coupling eye, while shoulders are formed at F, projecting outwardly in the direction of the cable. The outer faces of these shoulders abut against the ends of the transmission wire, where it is cut to admit the insertion of the coupling. At the center of the key-piece a rectangular perforation is provided, having an entrance passing from the bottom of the key-piece to the lower edge of the perforation, and of less widththan the latter, whereby lugs g, g, are formed upon which the flat links 0, 0, normally rest. These flat links have tail pieces Z secured by staples, or any suitable means to the upper side of the two ends (Z, (Z of the transmission wire. Each link has a rectangular opening h, corresponding in shape to the section through X X of the dowmvardly projecting fingers of the key-piece but sufli cientlylarge to provide for the play necessary to permit of the separation of the parts. The end portion m of each link is rounded oil at thetop and bottom of its inner and outer vertical faces to enable it to pass readily into and out of engagement with the key-piece.

lVhen coupling the ends of the conductor the members f and 0 are placed at right angles with each other, member 0 being introduced into the central. slot in member and the members then swung to a position in line with each other. The other link is now hooked into the key-piece, or the keypiece into it by an obvious manipulation, and the opposite end of the section is similarly coupled to the main line. When tension is applied to the section thus coupled, each link places its spring under compression. Upon rupture of any part of the section, the tension being released the links Will, by reaction, move from the r seats toward the other side of the perforation in the key-piece, being assistedin this move ment. by the pressure of springs m. As the other link in each'coupling is held back to its seat by the tension of its unbroken seeany other suitable known means, to a line 1 tion, the passage through entrance L clear, so that as soon as the end m, of the link reaches the aperture it falls through it to the ground. This will in most cases occur simultaneouslyat each end of the broken section. If not, 'the unsupported weight of the end which may still be retained will quickly release it from the coupling, leaving the entire section disconnected from the circuit, so that all accidents from contact with it by'persons or inflammable objects are precluded.

While in the description the term transmission wire has been used, it is evident that the same devicewill apply to the return wire, should there he no earth return.

I claim: I

1. A safety coupling for an electric conductor comprising a plurality of members secured to the adjacent ends of the conductor, such members being provided with slots and projecting beyond the respective ends of the conductor and a connecting member formed with a slot extending upwardly from its lower edge and with a slot extending at an angle to the slot first mentioned, shoal-- ders adjacent to the meeting point of the slots, and shoulders on the ends of the connecting member, the slotted portions "of the members first mentioned receiving portions of the connecting member when the parts are assembled, such members being held against displacement by the several shonlders aforesaid.

2. A safety coupling for an electric conductor comprising a plurality of members secured to the adjacent ends ot-tlie 0on ductor, such members being provided with slots and projecting beyond the respective ends of the conductor and a connecting membcr formed with a slot extending upwardly from its lower edge and with a slot extending at an angle to the slot first mentioned, shoulders adjacent to the meeting point of the slots, and shoulders on the ends of the connecting members, the slotted portions of the members first mentioned receiving portlOIlS of the connectmg member when the parts are assembled, such members being face of the ends of the conductor, such connecting member being formed with a slot extending upwardly from its lower edge and with a slot extending at an angle to the slot first mentioned, shoulders adjacent to the meeting point of the slots, and shoulders on the ends of the connecting member, the slotted portions of the members first mentioned receiving portions of the connecting member when the )arts are assembled, such members being hel" against displacement by the several shoulders aforesaid.

In testimony whereof I have signed the foregoing in the presence of two witnesses. ANGEL BELGODER. Witnesses: JUAN Lornz RnvunL'rA, MIGUEL OYARZALAL. 

